Spine stabilization device

ABSTRACT

Technologies are generally provided for devices, systems, and methods to provide spinal fixation, spinal stabilization, and/or spinal fusion. Example devices may include a first end and a second end with a middle portion extending between the first and second end. The first end may be configured to be in contact with a portion of a first or upper vertebra and the second end may be configured to be in contact with a portion of a second or lower vertebra in an adjacent vertebral pair. Portions of the vertebra which may be in contact with the device may include lamina, processes, vertebral bodies, and facet joints. The example devices may include bone engagement features, such as screws or similar fasteners, to enhance stabilization and fixation when in contact with the vertebrae. Additionally, the devices may include a bone integration feature to promote bone growth and to facilitate fusion between the vertebrae.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is the U.S. National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. §371of PCT Application Ser. No. PCT/IB2014/000773 filed on Feb. 28, 2014,which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) and 35 U.S.C. §365(b) toPCT Application Ser. No. PCT/AU13/000984 filed on Aug. 30, 2013. Thedisclosures of the PCT Applications are hereby incorporated by referencein their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in thissection are not prior art to the claims in this application and are notadmitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Surgical techniques are often used to treat spinal disorders. Spinalfusion is one such technique that may be indicated in circumstanceswhere the spine is incapable of correctly performing key functions orwhere a patient experiences significant discomfort and pain due todeterioration, misalignment, and impingement on related nerves. Spinalfusion often involves use of artificial implants that are surgicallypositioned to bridge between and stabilize adjacent vertebrae. Thestabilization implants may promote fusion via bone formation between theadjacent vertebrae. Such implants often involve the use of screws orother similar fasteners to ensure ongoing stability and provide a stablemechanical environment to allow bone formation as to provide sufficientmechanical properties to stabilize the spine.

SUMMARY

The following summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the drawings and the followingdetailed description.

The present disclosure generally describes a spinal stabilization deviceto facilitate spinal fusion. The spinal stabilization device may includean inter-transverse process implant including a first end including afirst curved portion adapted to be in contact with a portion of a firstvertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair, a second end including a secondcurved portion adapted to be in contact with a portion of a secondvertebra adjacent to the first vertebra, and a middle portion extendingbetween the first end and the second end, at least a portion of themiddle portion adapted to be positioned between the first vertebra andthe second vertebra.

The present disclosure also describes a spinal stabilization device tofacilitate spinal fusion, including a first end adapted to be in contactwith a first vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair, a second endadapted to be in contact with a second vertebra of the adjacentvertebral pair, and a middle portion extending between the first end andthe second end, at least a portion of the middle portion adapted to bepositioned between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. The firstvertebra may be a relatively superior vertebra and the second vertebramay be a relatively inferior vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair.

The present disclosure also describes a spinal stabilization device tofacilitate spinal fusion, including a plate fixation device configuredto extend between a first pedicle screw inserted within a first vertebraand a second pedicle screw inserted within a second vertebra, where theplate fixation device includes one or more holes configured toaccommodate insertion of the first and/or the second pedicle screws. Theplate fixation device may include a locking mechanism to accommodatecoupling with the first and/or the second pedicle screw such that whenthe first and/or the second pedicle screw may be inserted within the oneor more holes, the plate fixation device may be compressed against thefirst vertebra and the second vertebra.

The present disclosure further describes a method to achieve spinalfusion, including inserting a spinal stabilization device between anadjacent vertebral pair such that a first end of the spinalstabilization device may be in contact with a first vertebra of theadjacent vertebral pair, and a bifurcated second end of the spinalstabilization device may be in contact with a second vertebra of theadjacent vertebral pair such that the bifurcated second end straddles aportion of the second vertebra.

The present disclosure also describes a method to achieve spinal fusion,including inserting an elongated plate between an adjacent vertebralpair, such that a first end of the plate may be in contact with aposterior lamina of a first vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair, anda second end of the plate may be in contact with a posterior lamina ofthe second vertebra, and where a middle portion of the plate extendingbetween the first end and the second end may be adapted to be positionedbetween the first vertebra and the second vertebra.

The present disclosure further describes a method to achieve spinalfusion, the method including inserting an inter-transverse processimplant between a first vertebra and a second vertebra of an adjacentvertebral pair such that a first end of the implant may be in contactwith a first transverse process of the first vertebra of the adjacentvertebral pair, a second end of the implant may be in contact with asecond transverse process of the second vertebra of the adjacentvertebral pair, and a middle portion configured in a substantiallycurved shape extends between the first end and the second end in one ofa posterior or an anterior configuration with respect to the adjacentvertebral pair.

The present disclosure further describes a method to achieve spinalfusion, including inserting an inter-transverse process implant betweena first vertebra and a second vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pairsuch that a first end including a first curved portion may be in contactwith a portion of a first vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair, asecond end including a second curved portion may be in contact with aportion of a second vertebra adjacent to the first vertebra, and amiddle portion coupling the first end and the second end extends betweenthe first vertebra and the second vertebra.

The present disclosure also describes a method to increase stability ofan adjacent vertebral pair of a spine. The method may include selectinga spinal stabilization device having dimensions and mechanicalparameters to achieve the increase in stability between the adjacentvertebral pair, preparing a portion of a surface of a first vertebra anda second vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair employing a vibrationaltechnique to receive the spinal stabilization device, and implanting thespinal stabilization device at a location relative to the adjacentvertebral pair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an anatomy of an example spinal column and crosssection of a vertebra;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example spinal stabilization device integratedwithin a facet joint between adjacent vertebrae;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate example configurations of a spinal stabilizationdevice connecting lamina of adjacent vertebrae;

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate example configurations of an inter-transversefusion device connecting transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae inan anterior configuration;

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate example configurations of an inter-transversefusion device connecting transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae in aposterior configuration;

FIGS. 6A-6G illustrate various configurations of a spinalfusion/fixation device including end saddles to connect transverseprocesses of adjacent vertebrae; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a plate fixation device to connect pedicle screwsinserted in adjacent vertebrae, all arranged in accordance with at leastsome embodiments as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented herein. The aspects of the present disclosure, as generallydescribed herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged,substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety ofdifferent configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplatedherein.

This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to compositions,methods, apparatus, systems, and/or devices related to providing a spinestabilization device.

Briefly stated, technologies are generally provided for devices,systems, and methods to provide spinal fixation, spinal stabilization,and/or spinal fusion. An example device may include a first end and asecond end with a middle portion extending between the first and secondend. The first end may be configured to be in contact with a portion ofa first or upper vertebra and the second end may be configured to be incontact with a portion of a second or lower vertebra in an adjacentvertebral pair. Portions of the vertebra which may be in contact withthe device may include lamina, processes, vertebral bodies, and facetjoints. The example devices may include bone engagement features, suchas screws or similar fasteners, to enhance stabilization and fixationwhen in contact with the vertebrae. Additionally, the devices mayinclude a bone integration feature to promote bone growth and tofacilitate fusion between the vertebrae.

In some figures and associated descriptions below, some portions ofanatomy have been intentionally omitted and/or represented in varyingproportions in order to facilitate viewing and description of thedescribed spinal stabilization devices, according to embodiments herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an anatomy of an example spinal column and crosssection of a vertebra, arranged in accordance with at least someembodiments as described herein.

An example human spinal column includes 33 vertebrae, including 24articulating vertebrae in upper regions of the spine (i.e. cervical,thoracic, and lumbar regions), and nine fused vertebrae in a lowerregion below the lumbar region forming a sacrum and a coccyx of thespine. The vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs 106 thatprovide separation and cushioning between the vertebrae. The vertebraeprovide for muscle connection to enable movement of the spine, and toallow the spine to support the weight of the upper body. The spinalcolumn also provides protection for the spinal cord.

An example vertebra includes an anterior portion 120, or a vertebralbody 104, and a posterior portion 122, which includes lamina 118,pedicles, processes 112 (including transverse processes, a spinousprocess, and superior and inferior articular processes), and facetjoints 114. The anterior portion 120 and posterior portion 122 togetherenclose a foramen 124 that forms a canal for protection of the spinalcord. The vertebral body 104 is composed of hard cortical bone on theoutside which forms a rim 108 around a circumference of the vertebralbody 104, and less dense, or spongy, cancellous bone 110 on the inside.The intervertebral discs 106 are sandwiched between adjacent vertebralbodies and are attached to the rims 108 of each vertebral body 104 via abony endplate. The intervertebral discs 106 are soft, compressible discsthat separate the vertebral bodies 104, acting as shock absorbers forthe spine, and allowing the spine to flex, bend, and twist. Over time,the intervertebral discs 106 can break down, or degenerate, puttingpressure on the spinal cord and nerves, which can lead to pain and canaffect nerve function.

A spinal fusion is a procedure designed to alleviate symptoms of discdegeneration and other disc issues, including herniation,spondylolisthesis, kyphosis, and lordosis, for example. The spinalfusion may involve bone formation between two or more adjacent vertebraeto cause the two or more adjacent vertebrae to permanently fuse togetherin order to eliminate motion in the fused segment of the spine, andthereby decrease and/or eliminate the back pain created by the motion ofthe spine. Some existing methods to achieve spinal fusion may includeimplants placed between adjacent vertebrae to provide fixation andstabilization. In some existing techniques, bone graft material may beinserted between the vertebrae to promote bone growth through theimplants, and plates, screws, or rods or other fixation devices may beemployed to hold the vertebrae together while the bone graft fuses thevertebrae together.

A system according to embodiments may provide low-profile spinalstabilization devices to enable fixation and stabilization betweenadjacent vertebrae, and to facilitate eventual fusion between theadjacent vertebrae. Example stabilization devices, according toembodiments, may be configured to be in contact with portions of upperand lower vertebrae of an adjacent vertebral pair to stabilize thevertebrae while the vertebrae fuse together.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example spinal stabilization device 202 integratedwithin a facet joint between adjacent vertebrae, arranged in accordancewith at least some embodiments as described herein.

In a system according to embodiments, a spinal stabilization device 202or implant may be employed to minimize and/or prohibit motion betweenadjacent facets, or within a facet joint 211, of an upper and lowervertebra. The facet joint, or the Zygapophyseal or Apophyseal joint, isa joint between a superior articular process 206 of a lower vertebra 214and an inferior articular process 207 of an adjacent upper vertebra 212.There are two facet joints in each vertebral pair, one on a posteriorright side and another on a posterior left side of the vertebra.

An example spinal stabilization device or implant to prohibit motionbetween adjacent facets may be a spinal stabilization device 202 havinga first end 201 and a second end 204 with a middle portion 203 extendingbetween the first end 201 and the second end 204. A stabilizing crossmember 230 may extend from the first end 201 to the second end 204. Inan example embodiment, one or both ends of the spinal stabilizationdevice 202 may be bifurcated into a “y-shaped” end (i.e. a bifurcatedend). For example, the second end 204 may be bifurcated into a forked or“y-shaped” end such that that the spinal stabilization device 202 maysubstantially resemble a lambda shape when viewing the device from afront view. The bifurcated second end 204 may be configured to be seatedupon a superior articular process 206 of a facet joint of a lowervertebra 214 of an adjacent vertebral pair. When seated upon thesuperior articular process 206, the bifurcated second end 204 maystraddle the superior articular process 206 of the facet joint such thata prong of the bifurcated second end 204 may be positioned intra-facetof the adjacent vertebra pair to anchor the spinal stabilization device202 in position. Seating the bifurcated second end. 204 upon thesuperior articular process 206 of the facet joint may enable the spinalstabilization device 202 to experience minimal movement and a reducedinstance of migration once in position.

In a system according to embodiments, the first end 201 of the spinalstabilization device 202 may be configured to be in contact with aportion of an upper vertebra 212 of the adjacent vertebral pair. Forexample, the first end 201 of the spinal stabilization device 202 may bearranged to be in contact with an underside of a superior articularprocess, an inferior surface of a pedicle, or an inferior surface of atransverse process 213 of the upper vertebra 212. In some embodiments,the first end 201 and/or the second end 204 may be contoured such that achannel of the first end 201 may be formed to receive the portion of theupper vertebra 212. The spinal stabilization device 202 may be implantedextraosseously such that the first end 201 rests upon the upper vertebra212 and the second end 204 rests upon the lower vertebra 214 withoutactive fixation.

Additionally, in other embodiments, one or both of the first end 201 andthe second end 204 may be anchored to the portion of the upper vertebra212 and the lower vertebra 214 employing a mechanical fixation mechanismto stabilize the spinal stabilization device 202 in position and toprevent undesired movement and migration of the spinal stabilizationdevice 202 once in position. Example fixation mechanism may includescrews, clamps, sutures, hooks, wires, roughened surfaces, and othersimilar fixation mechanism. Furthermore, the first end 201 and thesecond end 204 may also include a bone engagement feature to preventmigration. The bone engagement feature may be adapted to aggravate,pierce or scratch a bone, such as the vertebrae, and/or its relatedperiosteum, to trigger an osteogenic, or a bone healing, response in thebone surface. An example bone engagement feature may include hooks,spikes, and a modified or textured surface to enable the first and/orsecond ends to engage with the vertebra to prevent movement andmigration, at least temporarily. The surface may be modified or texturedwith etching, pores or other features to provide a roughened surface forbone growth to engage the stabilization device 202. In some scenarios, asurface of one or more of the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra maybe prepared to receive the spinal stabilization device 202 prior toinsertion of the spinal stabilization device 202 by decorticating thesurface prior to insertion of the spinal stabilization device 202. Inother embodiments, the spinal stabilization device 202 may be configuredto be passively maintained in position between the adjacent vertebra inresponse to pressure from surrounding ligaments, musculature, and tissuewithout an active fixation mechanism.

In another example embodiment, a combination of mechanical and chemicalfixation mechanisms may be employed together to stabilize the spinalstabilization device 202 in position and to prevent undesired movementand migration of the spinal stabilization device 202 once in position.For example, a mechanical mechanism, such as screws, wires, hooks, andother similar mechanisms, may be combined with a chemical fixationmechanism such as a biological fixation, compound, and/or glue. Somechemical fixation mechanisms may include creating an irritation on abone surface (e.g., through etching, scratching, and/or texturizing) tofacilitate bone growth, and coating the surface with a material to aidin bone growth. Some example coating materials may include ahydroxyapatite coating, calcium phosphate coatings,Arginylglycylaspartic acid (RGD) sequences, and other peptidesconfigured to facilitate bonding and bone growth.

In an example embodiment, the middle portion 203 between the first end201 and the second end 204 may be curved from the first end 201 to thesecond end 204 to substantially follow a natural bony anatomy betweenthe upper vertebra 212 and the lower vertebra 214. The curved middleportion 203 may be positioned in situ such that the middle portion 203extends between the first end 201 and the second end 204 acrossvertebrae of the adjacent vertebral pair, or alternatively, the middleportion 203 may extend across lamina of the adjacent vertebral pair.

In some embodiments, an expansion force may be provided between thefirst end 201 and the second end 204 along the middle portion 203 tofacilitate holding the spinal stabilization device 202 in place betweenthe upper vertebra 212 and lower vertebra 214 of the adjacent vertebrapair. The expansion force may also be configured to increase a spacebetween facets as desired in order to compensate for detected spinalmisalignments. In other embodiments, a compression force may be providedbetween the first end 201 and the second end 204 along the middleportion 203 to enable a space between facets to be reduced to alsocompensate for detected spinal misalignments. For example, two facetimplants may be employed together to reduce a facet space on one side ofa vertebra while increasing a facet space on the other side of thevertebra. Dimensions, such as a shape and size, of the spinalstabilization device 202 may be selected pre-operatively based onpatient anatomy specifics, and desired results.

In an example embodiment, the spinal stabilization device 202 may becomposed from a polymer, a metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof,which may be biocompatible. For example, the spinal stabilization device202 can be formed from titanium or a titanium alloy. Other suitablemetals may include stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloys, andtantalum. Additionally, metal alloys having varying physical propertiessuch as shape memory capability, such as nickel titanium or springstainless steel alloys, may be used. In another embodiment, the spinalstabilization device 202 can be formed from a suitable polymer includingnon-degradable polymers, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) andpolyethylene (PE), as well as modified versions of these materials (forexample, PEEK+calcium phosphates and PE+vitamin E, metal coatings, orsurface texturing). Additional non limiting polymers may includepolymers, such as polyether-block co-polyamide polymers, copolyesterelastomers, thermoset polymers, polyolefins (e.g., polypropylene orpolyethylene, including high density polyethylene (HDPEs), low-densitypolyethylene (LDPEs), and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)), polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyamides,polyimides, polyurethanes, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fluoropolymers(e.g., fluorinated ethylene propylene, perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) polymer,polyvinylidenefluoride, etc.), polyetheretherketones (PEEKs),PEEK-carbon fiber composites, Polyetherketoneketones (PEKKs),poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), polysulfone (PSU), epoxy resins andsilicones. Additionally starch based polymers may be used.

Additional materials may include carbon and polyaramid structures, glassor fiberglass derivatives, ceramic materials, and artificialbiocompatible protein derivatives (recombinant derived collagen). Inother embodiments, the stabilization device 202 may be made of a metaland/or alloy backbone with a polymer shell, or a sandwich stylecomposition of any number of layers of any of the materials listedherein. Various layers may be bonded to each other to provide for singlelayer composition of metal(s), alloys, and/or polymers. In anotherembodiment, a polymer backbone may be used with a metal and/or metalalloy shell.

Additionally, at least a portion of the spinal stabilization device 202may include a bone integration surface to promote bone ingrowth,on-growth, and/or through-growth between the upper vertebra 212, thelower vertebra 214, and the spinal stabilization device 202 tofacilitate fusion between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebraand/or to facilitate fusion between the spinal stabilization device 202and one or both of the upper and lower vertebrae. The bone integrationsurfaces can comprise a three-dimensional space to allow boneintegration into and/or onto portions of the spinal stabilization device202. The three dimensional space can be provided by a three-dimensionalsubstrate, for example beads, and/or by the provision of holes throughthe bone integration portions. Other methods for achieving boneintegration can include the provision of an appropriate surfacetopography, for example a roughened or textured area and/or by theprovision of osteoconductive coatings, such as calcium phosphates. Thebone integration surface may enable the spinal stabilization device 202to provide a metal and/or polymeric scaffold for tissue integration tobe achieved through the spinal stabilization device 202. In variousembodiments, various materials may be used to facilitate, stimulate oractivate bone growth. A non-limiting list of materials may includehydroxyapatite (HA) coatings, synthetic bioabsorbable polymers such aspoly (α-hydroxy esters), poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA), poly(glycolicacid) (PGA) or their copolymers, poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA), and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLC), poly(L-lactide) (LPLA), (DLPLA),poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(dioxanone) (PDO),poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PGA-TMC),poly(lactide-co-glycolide), polyorthoesters, poly (anhydrides),polyhydroxybutyrate, poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PGA-LPLA),cyanoacrylates, poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PGA-DLPLA), poly(ethylenecarbonate), poly(iminocarbonates), poly(l-lactide-co-dl-lactide)(LPLA-DLPLA), and poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate-co-dioxanone)(PDO-PGA-TMC).

Furthermore, at least a portion of the spinal stabilization device 202may be treated or coated with a calcium material, such as calciumdeposits, calcium phosphate coatings, calcium sulfates, modified calciumsalts such as Magnesium, Strontium and/or Silicon substituted calciumphosphates, RGD sequences, collagen, and combinations thereof in orderto enhance a strength of bone ingrowth, on-growth, and/or through-growthbetween the vertebrae and with the spinal stabilization device 202. Thecalcium deposits and/or coatings may enable newly forming bone to drawfrom the calcium deposits when forming, and to not deplete naturallyoccurring calcium from bones of the spinal column which may result in aweakening of the spinal column.

Example techniques for insertion and implantation of the spinalstabilization device 202 may include an open surgical procedure and/or aminimally invasive surgical procedure, where lateral and posteriorapproaches may enable convenient access to the facet joint(s) 211. Anexample procedure may include dissection and exposure to access atargeted facet joint, removal of at least a portion of facet jointcartilage, and optional decortication of the receiving vertebral boneareas. Additionally, a portion of the facets of the facet joint(s) 211may be trimmed and shaped employing specialized tools such as rasps toprepare the facet to receive the implant. Subsequently, one end of thespinal stabilization device 202 may be inserted into the facet joint 211and the other end may be attached to a portion of the upper vertebra 212as described above. Specialized tools, such as guide wires, cannulateddrills, tubular retractors, and the like under fluoroscopy monitoringmay also be employed to facilitate implantation. In an example minimallyinvasive procedure, minimal bone preparation and minimal exposure ofbony elements of the spine may be required in order to insert thedevice. Implantation of the device may be achieved employing ultrasoundor radiographic guided implantation, where the device may include aplurality of radiographic markers to enable the surgeon toradiographically monitor a position of the device and to insert thedevice into position employing the radiographic imaging.

In a system according to embodiments, the spinal stabilization devicemay be customized for individuals based on a predetermined anatomy ofeach individual. For example, a detailed anatomical scan may beperformed of an individual's vertebral anatomy employing, for example, acomputed tomography (CT) scan, an ultrasound and/or a magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) scan. Based on the detailed vertebral scan, anindividual-specific spinal stabilization device may be created to matchthe individual's anatomy. For example, bone contacting portions of thedevice, such as a bone contacting channel or a groove, may match asurface of the bone. Additionally, dimensions of the device may match aspace between vertebrae where the device may be implanted. In someexamples, after a scan has been performed, a surgeon or physician mayalso apply customizations to correct for deformities and/or to inducedesired effects of the implant. The scans may also enable the physicianto predict a range of stresses on the vertebrae, to monitor for nerveimpingements, and to evaluate potential ranges of motion for amanufactured implant. Based on the scan and physician specifications,the spinal stabilization device may be manufactured employingthree-dimensional printing techniques, or other manufacturingtechniques. The spinal stabilization device may also be constructed froma malleable material to enable manipulation in situ by the physician toposition the device into a desired position.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate example configurations of a spinal stabilizationdevice connecting lamina of adjacent vertebrae, arranged in accordancewith at least some embodiments as described herein.

In a system according to embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, aspinal stabilization device or implant may be employed to prohibitmotion between an upper vertebra 304 and a lower vertebra 306 of anadjacent vertebral pair 310 through engagement with lamina 307, 308 ofthe upper vertebra 304 and the lower vertebra 306. The spinalstabilization device may be a laminar plate 302 configured to engagewith a posterior surface of lamina (e.g., an upper lamina 307 and alower lamina 308) of an adjacent vertebral pair 310. The laminar plate302 may be an elongated plate 302 configured to extend between a firstvertebra (e.g. the upper vertebra 304) and a second vertebra (e.g. thelower vertebra 306) of an adjacent vertebral pair 310. A first end 301of the plate 302 may be in contact with a posterior upper lamina 307 ofthe first or the upper vertebra 304, a second end 305 of the plate 302may be in contact with a posterior lower lamina 308 of the second or thelower vertebra 306, and a middle portion 303 of the plate 302 may extendbetween the first end 301 and the second end 305 to connect andstabilize the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra. The middle portion303 of the plate 302 may be contoured to substantially follow a naturalbony anatomy of a posterior portion 311 of the adjacent vertebral pair310, as illustrated FIG. 3B demonstrating a side view of the plate 302.

In a further embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, a laminar plate 302Amay include a locking component 312 configured to extend from the plate302A into a facet joint between the first or the upper vertebra 304 andthe second or the lower vertebra 306. The locking component 312 may be ahook configured to insert within the facet joint to stabilize the plate302A in position between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. Thelocking component 312 may facilitate a fusion of the facet joint.

In a system according to embodiments, one or both of the first end 301and the second end 305 of the plate 302 may be anchored to the lamina308 of the upper vertebra 304 and the lower vertebra 306 employing amechanical fixation mechanism to stabilize the device in position and toprevent undesired movement and migration of the device once in position.Example fixation mechanisms may include screws, clamps, sutures, hooks,wires, roughened surfaces, and other similar fixation mechanisms, asdescribed above. Additionally, the first and second ends may alsoinclude a bone engagement feature, as also described above, to preventmigration. Example bone engagement features may include hooks, spikes,and a modified or textured surface to enable the first and/or secondends to engage with the vertebra to prevent movement and migration. Thebone engagement feature may also trigger an osteogenic response. In somescenarios, a surface of one or more of the first vertebra and the secondvertebra may be prepared to receive the spinal stabilization deviceprior to insertion of the spinal stabilization device by decorticatingthe surface prior to insertion of the spinal stabilization device. Inother embodiments, the device may be configured to be passivelystabilized between the adjacent vertebra in response to pressure fromsurrounding ligaments, musculature and tissue without an active fixationmechanism.

The laminar plate (e.g. 302 and 302A) may be composed from a polymer, ametal, an alloy, or a combination thereof. Example materials may be asdescribed herein.

Additionally, at least a portion of the plate 302 may include a boneintegration surface to promote bone ingrowth, on-growth, and/orthrough-growth between the first vertebra, the second vertebra, and theplate 302 to facilitate fusion between the first vertebra and the secondvertebra and/or to facilitate fusion between the plate 302 and one orboth of the first and second vertebrae. As discussed above, the boneintegration surface can include an appropriate surface topography, forexample a roughened or textured area, and/or osteoconductive coatings,such as calcium phosphates, on the surface to enable the plate 302 toprovide a metal and/or polymeric scaffold for tissue integration to beachieved through the plate 302.

Furthermore, at least a portion of the plate 302 may be treated orcoated with a calcium material, such as calcium deposits and coatings asdescribed herein to enhance a strength of bone ingrowth, on-growth,and/or through-growth between the vertebrae and with the plate 302. Thecoated calcium deposits may enable newly forming bone to draw from thecalcium deposits when forming, and to not deplete naturally occurringcalcium from bones of the spinal column which may result in a weakeningof the spinal column.

Example techniques for insertion and implantation of the plate 302 mayinclude an open surgical procedure and/or a minimally invasive surgicalprocedure, where lateral and posterior approaches may enable convenientaccess to the posterior lamina (e.g., 307 and 308). An example proceduremay include dissection and exposure to access a targeted vertebral pairand optional decortication of the receiving vertebral bone areas, suchas the lamina 307 and 308. Subsequently, one end of the plate 302 may beattached to an upper vertebra 304 and the other end may be attached tothe lower vertebra 306 as described above. Specialized tools, such asguide wires, cannulated drills, tubular retractors, fluoroscopymonitoring, radiographic markers and imaging may also be employed tofacilitate implantation through minimally invasive procedures.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate example configurations of an inter-transversefusion device connecting transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae inan anterior configuration, arranged in accordance with at least someembodiments as described herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a spinal stabilization device may include aninter-transverse process implant 402 configured to be inserted betweentransverse processes of a first vertebra and a second vertebra of anadjacent vertebral pair 410. A first end 401 of the implant 402 may beconfigured to be in contact with a first transverse process of thefirst, or upper, vertebra, and a second end 405 of the implant 402 maybe configured to be in contact with a second transverse process of thesecond, or lower, vertebra. A middle portion 403 may extend between thefirst end 401 and the second end 405, and the middle portion 403 may beconfigured in a substantially curved shape to accommodate an anatomy ofthe spine between the transverse processes, and may include a channel(i.e. channel 404A and 404B) on a bone contacting side of the implant402. The channel 404 may be contiguous from the first end 401 to thesecond end 405, where a first end of the channel is shown as 404A andthe second end of the channel is shown as 404B in FIG. 4A.

In one example embodiment, the curved middle portion 403 may extend inan anterior configuration with respect to the adjacent vertebral pair410, such that the curved middle portion 403 may follow an anterioraspect of a foramen along vertebral bodies of the adjacent vertebralpair 410. In another example embodiment, as will be discussed in furtherdetail below in conjunction with FIGS. 5A-5B, the curved middle portion403 may be in a posterior configuration with respect to the adjacentvertebral pair 410.

FIG. 4B illustrates a front view and a side view of the inter-transverseprocess implant 402 inserted in position between transverse processes(i.e. an upper transverse process 411 and a lower transverse process413) of upper and lower vertebrae of the adjacent vertebral pair 410. Astabilizing cross member, such as the stabilizing cross member 230, mayenhance a strength and a stability of the inter-transverse processimplant 402 between the upper and lower vertebrae of the adjacentvertebral pair 410. In an example embodiment, the curved middle portion403 may include a contoured channel 404, as described in FIG. 4A, or agroove along a bone contacting surface to substantially accommodate anatural bony anatomy of the anterior aspect of the foramen along thevertebral bodies and along the disc of the adjacent vertebral pair 410.In some examples, the bone contacting surface of the implant may beconfigured to be in contact with the bone such that about 10% to about100% of the implant may be in contact and communicable with the bone.Additionally; when the bone contacting surface of the implant is incontact with a portion of the bone, there may be a slight offset of lessthan about 2 to about 300 micrometers to enable the bone to attach tothe implant, however, in some scenarios, the implant may be offsetfurther.

In an example embodiment, at least a portion of the bone contactingsurface of the contoured channel 404 may include a bone integrationsurface to promote bone ingrowth, on-growth, and/or through-growthbetween the first vertebra, the second vertebra, and the implant 402 tofacilitate fusion between the first vertebra and the second vertebraand/or to facilitate fusion between the device and one or both of thefirst and second vertebrae. The bone integration surface may include,for example, a roughened or textured area, or osteoconductive coatings,such as calcium phosphates. The bone integration surface may enable thedevice to provide a metal and/or polymeric scaffold for tissueintegration to be achieved through the device. Additionally, at least aportion of the implant 402 may be treated or coated with a calciummaterial as described herein, to enhance a strength of bone ingrowth,on-growth, and/or through-growth between the vertebrae and with theimplant 402. The bone integration surface may be present on one side ofthe implant 402 only, such as the bone contacting surface, so that thereis no bony growth on the other side, which may prevent bone growth overnerves and other tissue.

As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the inter-transverse process implant 402 mayinclude at least two portions to facilitate implantation, including anupper portion 406 and a lower portion 408. The upper portion 406 andlower portion 408 may be inserted separately, and may be configured tobe coupled together in situ. For example, the upper portion 406 may beattached to a portion of the upper transverse process 411, and the lowerportion 408 may be attached to a portion of the lower transverse process413. After insertion of both the upper and lower portions 408, the upperportion 406 and the lower portion 408 may be coupled together through acoupling mechanism, such as a snap fit, a Morse taper engagement,connecting tabs, by screwing the portions together, by gluing theportions together with a biocompatible glue, or other similar couplingmechanism.

As illustrated in FIG. 4D, the inter-transverse process implant 402 maybe anchored to the portion of the upper vertebra and the lower vertebraemploying a mechanical fixation mechanism 412 to stabilize the device inposition and to prevent undesired movement and migration of the implantonce in position. Example fixation mechanisms 412 may include screws,clamps, sutures, hooks, wires, roughened surfaces, and other similarfixation mechanisms as previously described herein. The fixationmechanism 412 may be integrated with one or both of the first end 401and the second end 405 of the implant 402, and may be configured to fixthe first end 401 a portion of the upper vertebra, such as the uppertransverse process 411 and the second end 405 to a portion of the lowervertebra, such as the lower transverse process 413.

In another embodiment, when the implant 402 includes upper and lowerportions configured to be coupled together as described above, each ofthe upper and lower portions may be anchored to the upper transverseprocess 411 and the lower transverse process 413, respectively,employing fixation mechanisms 412. The first end 401 and the second end405 of the implant 402 may also include a bone engagement feature toprevent migration and to trigger an osteogenic, or a bone healing,response in the bone surface. As previously discussed, an example boneengagement feature may include hooks, spikes, and a modified or texturedsurface to enable the first end 401 and/or second end 405 of the implant402 to engage with the vertebrae to prevent movement and migration. Thesurface may be modified or textured with etching, pores, or otherfeatures to provide a roughened surface for bone growth to engage thestabilization device. In some scenarios, a surface of one or more of thefirst vertebra and the second vertebra may be decorticated to preparethe vertebrae to receive the implant 402. The implant 402 may also beconfigured to be passively stabilized between the adjacent vertebra inresponse to pressure from surrounding ligaments, musculature, and tissuewithout an active fixation mechanism. While the bone fixation mechanismsand bone engagement features are described herein with respect to theimplant 402 in the anterior configuration, similar fixation mechanismsand bone engagement features may be applied to the implant in theposterior configuration described below in conjunction with FIGS. 5A-D.

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate example configurations of an inter-transverseprocess fusion device connecting transverse processes of adjacentvertebrae in a posterior configuration, arranged in accordance with atleast some embodiments as described herein.

As discussed above, in conjunction with FIGS. 4A-4D, an inter-transverseprocess implant 502 may be inserted between transverse processes of anadjacent vertebral pair 510, with a first end 501 attached to a firsttransverse process 511 of an upper vertebra, a second end 505 attachedto a second transverse process 513 of a lower vertebra, and a curvedmiddle portion 503 extending between the first and second ends. Asillustrated in FIG. 5A, the curved middle portion 503 may be in aposterior configuration with respect to the adjacent vertebral pair 510,such that the curved middle portion 503 may substantially follow aposterior anatomy of the adjacent vertebral pair 510 along facet joints.

A front view and a side view of the inter-transverse process implant 502of FIG. 5A illustrates the inter-transverse process implant 502 insertedin position between the first transverse process 511 of the uppervertebra and the second transverse process 513 of the lower vertebra.The curved middle portion 503 may include a contoured channel 504configured to receive portions of the bony anatomy between the upper andlower vertebra. When in position between the transverse processes (e.g.,the first transverse process 511 and the second transverse process 513)of the vertebrae, the contoured channel 504 may be in contact with aportion of vertebral bone. As previously discussed, at least a portionof the bone contacting surface, including the contoured channel 504, mayinclude a bone integration surface to promote bone ingrowth, on-growth,and/or through-growth with the implant 502.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, similar to the anterior configuration aspreviously described, the inter-transverse process implant 502 in theposterior configuration may include at least two portions to facilitateimplantation, including an upper portion 506 and a lower portion 508.The upper portion 506 and lower portion 508 may be inserted separately,and may be coupled together in situ. For example, the upper portion 506may be attached to a portion of the first transverse process 511 of theupper vertebra, and the lower portion 508 may be attached to a portionof the second transverse process 513 of the lower vertebra. Afterinsertion of both the upper and lower portion, the upper portion 506 andthe lower portion 508 may be coupled together through a couplingmechanism, such as a snap fit, a Morse taper engagement, connectingtabs, by screwing the portions together, by gluing the portions togetherwith a biocompatible glue, or other similar coupling mechanism.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, a spring 512 may beincorporated with the inter-transverse process implant 502. While thespring 512 is shown integrated with the inter-transverse process implant502 in the posterior configuration, the spring 512 may also beintegrated with the curved middle portion of the inter-transverseprocess implant 502 in the anterior configuration. An example spring 512may be curved to follow a shape of the curved middle portion 503 portionof the implant 502. The spring 512 may be a flexible and/or an expandingspring that allows the implant 502 to be flexible. In some embodiments,the spring 512 may be configured to mimic a flexibility and deformationof an intervertebral disc (not shown) between the adjacent vertebralpair 510. A flexibility of the spring may be dependent on a material andgeometry of the spring 512. Additionally, a desired flexibility of thespring 512 may be achieved through incorporation of a dashpot with thespring 512. The spring 512 may be composed from a polymer material, aceramic material, a metal or alloy material, such as nickel-titaniumalloy or other similar shape memory alloy material, or a combinationthereof.

In some embodiments, the spring 512 may be configured to compress thebone contacting channel 504 of the implant 502 against vertebrae toincrease a surface area of the contoured channel 504 that is in contactwith the surface of the vertebrae. The spring 512 may also be configuredto apply a distraction force of a desired magnitude to facilitate fusionof the adjacent vertebral pair 510 in a desired position.

In a system according to embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 5D, asupporting cross-member 520 may be integrated with the inter-transverseprocess implant 502. While the cross-member 520 as shown is integratedwith the inter-transverse process implant 502 in the posteriorconfiguration, the cross-member 520 may also be integrated with theinter-transverse process implant 502 in the anterior configuration. Thecross-member 520 may be configured to connect the first end and thesecond end of the implant 502 and to extend across the transverseprocesses (e.g., the first transverse process 511 and the secondtransverse process 513) of the adjacent vertebrae to add strength andstability to the implant 502. The cross-member 520 may have varyingdimensions to control rigidity as desired. Additionally, thecross-member 520 may be composed from materials having time dependentand non-isotropic properties that may allow the implant 502 to reactaccording to a rate of loading as well as according to a direction ofthe load, which may provide a protective mechanism to the spine whenexcessive loads are applied. When an excessive load is applied to thespine, the load may be shared between the spine and the implant 502,with extra strength supplied via the supportive cross-member 520.

Similar to the spinal stabilization devices described herein, theinter-transverse process implant 502, in both posterior and anteriorconfigurations, may be composed from a polymer, a metal, an alloy, or acombination thereof. Example polymer, metal, and alloy materials may beas described herein. Furthermore, at least a portion of the implant 502may be treated or coated with a calcium material, as described herein,to enhance a strength of bone ingrowth, on-growth, and/or through-growthbetween the vertebrae and with the implant 502 by enabling newly formingbone to draw from the calcium deposits when forming.

In a further embodiment, example techniques for insertion andimplantation of the inter-transverse process implant 502 may include anopen surgical procedure and/or a minimally invasive surgical procedure,as described herein. An example procedure may include dissection andexposure to access a targeted vertebral pair and optional decorticationof the receiving vertebral bone areas, such as the transverse processes.Subsequently, a first end, or an upper portion, of the implant 502 maybe attached to an upper vertebra and the other end, and/or the lowerportion, of the implant 502 may be attached to the lower vertebra asdescribed above.

As previously described herein, the inter-transverse process implant maybe customized for individuals based on a predetermined anatomy of eachindividual. For example, bone contacting portions of the device, such asthe contoured channel between the first and second ends, may match asurface of the bone. Additionally, dimensions of the device may match aspace between vertebrae where the inter-transverse process implant maybe inserted.

FIGS. 6A-6G illustrate various configurations of a spinalfusion/fixation device including end saddles to connect transverseprocesses of adjacent vertebrae, arranged in accordance with at leastsome embodiments as described herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, a spinal stabilization device may be aninter-transverse process implant 602 configured to be inserted betweentransverse processes of an adjacent vertebral pair 610 (e.g., a firsttransverse process 611 of a first or upper vertebra 604 and a secondtransverse process 613 of a second or lower vertebra 606). The implant602 may include a first end configured to be in contact with the firsttransverse process 611 of the upper vertebra 604, a second endconfigured to be in contact with the second transverse process 613 ofthe lower vertebra 606, and a middle portion 603 extending between thefirst end and the second end. In a system according to embodiments, asdemonstrated in FIG. 6A, one or both of the first and second ends mayinclude a curved portion (e.g., 608A and 608B) which may resemble au-shape or a j-shape in a cross-sectional view or perspective, forexample. The curved portions 608A and 608B may be adapted to be incontact with a portion of an upper vertebra 604 and/or lower vertebra606 of the adjacent vertebral pair 610. The curved portions 608A and608B may resemble a cup or a saddle, and may be configured to receiveand rest on a transverse process of a vertebra. For example, a firstcurved portion 608A on the first end may be adapted to receive the firsttransverse process 611 of the upper vertebra 604, and a second curvedportion 608B on the second end may be adapted to receive the secondtransverse process 613 of the lower vertebra 606.

As also illustrated in FIG. 6A, two implants may be insertedconcurrently on a right and left side of a spine between an adjacentvertebral pair 610. In some embodiments, the length of the two middleportions 603 of each of the implants 602 may be equal to maintain anequal spacing between the adjacent vertebrae, while in otherembodiments, the lengths of the middle portions 603 of each of theimplants may be different, in order to compensate for a determinedspacing misalignment between adjacent vertebrae. Dimensions, such as ashape and size, of the implant(s) 602 may be selected pre-operativelybased on patient anatomy specifics, and desired results.

In a system according to embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, edges(e.g., edges 612A, 612B, 612C, and 612D) of each of the first curvedportion 608A and the second curved portion 608B may be shortened tofacilitate implantation. For example, an anterior edge of one or both ofthe curved portions may be shortened, and/or a posterior edge of one orboth of the curved portions may be shortened.

Additionally, one or both of the first curved portion 608A and thesecond curved portion 608B may be mechanically anchored to the portionof the upper vertebra 604 and the lower vertebra 606 employing amechanical fixation mechanism to stabilize the device in position and toprevent undesired movement and migration of the device once in position.Example fixation mechanisms may include screws, clamps, sutures, hooks,wires, roughened surfaces, and other similar fixation mechanisms.Furthermore, the first curved portion 608A and the second curved portion608B may also include a bone engagement feature to prevent migration,such as hooks, spikes, and a modified or textured surface to enable thefirst curved portion 608A and/or the second curved portion 608B toengage with the vertebrae to prevent movement and migration. In otherembodiments, the implant 602 may also be configured to be passivelymaintained in place between the adjacent vertebrae due to pressure fromsurrounding ligaments, musculature, and tissue without actively fixingthe implant 602 employing a fixation mechanism.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, the implant 602 mayinclude one or more cutouts 614 to facilitate placement andimplantation. The cutouts 614 may enable a rotational implant strategyto be applied, which may enable the implant 602 to be inserted betweenthe adjacent vertebrae at a variety of angles, and rotated into a finaldesired position between the adjacent vertebrae. The cutaway portionsmay be pre-formed at one or both ends of the implant. Additionally, anarc 616 shape may be formed at a base of each of the curved portions608A and 608B to allow the implant 602 to be rotated into place on atransverse process of the vertebra. As illustrated in FIG. 6D, theimplant 602 may initially be inserted at an angle as shown inconfiguration 630, and the implant 602 may be rotated into a finalposition as shown in configuration 632 between the transverse processes(e.g., the first transverse process 611 and the second transverseprocess 613), by rotating the implant 602 around a pivot point with thecutouts 614 and arcs 616 of the curved portions 608 facilitatingrotation and implantation without interference from the transverseprocesses.

In a further embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6E, at least a portionof the device may include a bone integration surface to promote boneingrowth, on-growth, and/or through-growth between the first vertebra,the second vertebra, and the implant 602 to facilitate fusion betweenthe first vertebra and the second vertebra and/or to facilitate fusionbetween the implant 602 and one or both of the first and secondvertebrae. The bone integration surface may include a plurality ofperforations 620 formed in one or more the first and second curvedportions 608A and 608B and optionally also in the middle portion 603between the first and second end of the implant. The plurality ofperforations 620 may enable bone to grow into and/or completely throughthe implant. The plurality of perforations 620 may have a diameter in arange from about 100-300 μm to support bone ingrowth and on-growth. Thesize, shape, and number of perforations may vary over the implant.

As discussed herein, a bone integration surface of the implant 602 mayalso be achieved through the provision of an appropriate surfacetopography, for example a roughened or textured area and/or by theprovision of osteoconductive coatings, such as calcium phosphates. Thebone integration surface may enable the device to provide a metal and/orpolymeric scaffold for tissue integration to be achieved through thedevice. Additionally, the bone integration surface may be present on oneside of the implant 602 only, such as the bone contacting surface, sothat there is no bony growth on the other side, which may prevent bonegrowth over nerves and other tissue. Furthermore, at least a portion ofthe implant 602 may be treated or coated with a calcium material, asdescribed herein, to enhance a strength of bone ingrowth, on-growth,and/or through-growth between the vertebrae and with the implant. Thecoated calcium deposits may enable newly forming bone to draw from thecalcium deposits when forming.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6F and 6G, in some embodiments, the implant 602may be integrated with existing pedicle screw and/or rod systemsincorporated within one or more vertebrae. In an example embodiment, atleast one of the first end and the second end may include an attachmentcomponent (e.g., 622A and 622B) configured to facilitate integration ofthe implant 602 with an attachment mechanism, such as pedicle screwand/or rod systems. For example, the attachment components 622A and 622Bmay be a flange configured to connect the middle portion 603 of theimplant 602 with a pedicle screw inserted within a pedicle of the firstand/or second vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair 610. In anotherembodiment, the attachment component(s) 622A and 622B may enableincorporation of the implant 602 with pedicle screw and rod systemswhere the implant 602 may interconnect with a structure of the pediclescrew, such as a saddle portion of a monoblock or a multi-axial pediclescrew, which may also involve the implant 602 to incorporate a rodportion. Additionally, the attachment component 622 may include one ormore lugs 624 to interconnect with pedicle screws, or one or more tabsplaced on either side of a pedicle screw.

FIG. 6G illustrates example tabs 626 extending laterally from a portionof the curved portions 608A and 608B of the implant 602. Example tabs626 may provide temporary stabilization to prevent movement andmigration while fusion forms. Additionally, the tabs 626 may be deformedupon insertion and may fix closely to inserted pedicle screws to provideadditional stability. The tabs may include holes 628 to enableintegration with an attachment mechanism. In some examples, the holes628 may have a two dimensional taper configured to lock the pediclescrews within the hole by slight force and deformation.

In an example embodiment, example techniques for insertion andimplantation of the inter-transverse process implant 602 may include anopen surgical procedure and/or a minimally invasive surgical procedure,as described herein. An example procedure may include dissection andexposure to access a targeted vertebral pair and preparation of thereceiving vertebral bone areas, such as the transverse processes.Subsequently, a first end, or an upper portion, of the implant 602 maybe attached to an upper vertebra 604 and the other end, and/or the lowerportion, of the implant 602 may be attached to the lower vertebra 606 asdescribed above.

An example bone preparation may involve a vibrational bone preparationtechnique where a textured, roughened, or sharpened surface may be usedto prepare a portion of vertebral bone by scratching, bruising, orotherwise eliciting a healing response from the bone and/or periosteum(i.e., a membrane that covers the outer surface of the bone). Thevibrational preparation technique may employ surfaces having variouslevels of texture or roughness, and may be applied at varying intensitylevels to produce a desired effect. For example, a less rough surfacewith mild vibration may be employed to bruise periosteum alone ortogether with bone tissue, or bone tissue alone where the periosteum hasbeen removed and bone exposed due to a previously performed procedure.Higher levels of roughness and vibration may be used to broach thetissue, shaping it and allowing access to internal bone tissue, such asmarrow elements.

As previously described herein, the inter-transverse process implant maybe customized for individuals based on a predetermined anatomy of eachindividual. For example, bone contacting portions of the device, such asthe curved portions on the first and second ends, may be manufactured tomatch a surface of the bone as determined by detailed anatomy scans ofan individual. Additionally, dimensions of the device may match a spacebetween vertebrae where the inter-transverse process implant may beinserted.

FIG. 7 illustrates a plate fixation device 702 to connect pedicle screwsinserted in adjacent vertebrae, arranged in accordance with at leastsome embodiments as described herein. The plate fixation device 702 maybe an elongated plate configured to extend between a first pedicle screw710 inserted within a first vertebra 705 and a second pedicle screw 711inserted within a second vertebra 707 of an adjacent vertebral pair. Theplate fixation device 702 may include one or more attachment components704, which may be holes, configured to accommodate insertion of thefirst and/or the second pedicle screws 710 and 711. The attachmentcomponents 704 may include a locking mechanism to accommodate couplingwith the first pedicle screw 710 and/or the second pedicle screw 711such that when the first pedicle screw 710 and/or the second pediclescrew 711 is inserted within the one or more holes, the plate fixationdevice 702 may be compressed against the first vertebra 705 and thesecond vertebra 707. Other example locking mechanisms may lockspecialized attachment components 704 into the surface of the plate andthe first pedicle screw 710 and/or the second pedicle screw 711 withoutlimitations of thread profiles. The attachment components 704 may alsofeature a non-locking design where the attachment component 704 mayenable the first pedicle screw 710 and/or the second pedicle screw 711to couple to the plate without loading the vertebra and transferring aload to the first pedicle screw 710 and/or the second pedicle screw 711.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the plate fixation device 702may include a bone integration surface to promote bone ingrowth,on-growth, and/or through-growth between the first vertebra, the secondvertebra, and the plate fixation device 702 to facilitate fusion betweenthe first vertebra 705 and the second vertebra 707 and/or to facilitatefusion between the plate fixation device 702 and one or both of thefirst and second vertebrae. While embodiments have been discussed aboveusing specific examples, components, and configurations, they areintended to provide a general guideline to be used for devices, systems,and methods to provide spinal fixation, spinal stabilization, and/orspinal fusion. These examples do not constitute a limitation on theembodiments, which may be implemented using other components, modules,and configurations using the principles described herein. Furthermore,actions discussed above may be performed in various orders, especiallyin an interlaced fashion.

The present disclosure describes a spinal stabilization device tofacilitate spinal fusion. The spinal stabilization device may include aninter-transverse process implant including a first end including a firstcurved portion adapted to be in contact with a portion of a firstvertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair, a second end including a secondcurved portion adapted to be in contact with a portion of a secondvertebra adjacent to the first vertebra, and a middle portion extendingbetween the first end and the second end, at least a portion of themiddle portion adapted to be positioned between the first vertebra andthe second vertebra.

According to some embodiments, first curved portion may define a channelthat may be adapted to receive a first transverse process of the firstvertebra, and the second curved portion may define a channel that may beadapted to receive a second transverse process of the second vertebra.One or both edges of each of the first and second curved portions may beshortened to facilitate implantation.

According to some embodiments, one or both of the first end and thesecond end include a cutaway portion to enable the device to be insertedbetween the adjacent vertebral pair and rotated into a final positionbetween the first vertebra and the second vertebra. At least one of thefirst end and the second end includes an attachment component configuredto facilitate fixation of the inter-transverse process implant with thefirst and second vertebrae.

According to other embodiments, the attachment component may comprise anopening configured to receive a screw therethrough to connect theinter-transverse process implant to one or more of the first vertebraand/or the second vertebra. The attachment component may extendlaterally from one of the first end and the second end. The attachmentcomponent may be arranged to receive a screw for insertion within atleast a portion of a pedicle of the first vertebra and/or the secondvertebra when the first and second ends may be engaged with respectivefirst and second transverse processes.

According to other embodiments, the middle portion may be configured ina substantially curved shape in one of a posterior or an anteriorconfiguration with respect to the adjacent vertebral pair. The middleportion of the inter-transverse process implant includes a channel alonga bone contacting surface.

According to some embodiments, in an anterior configuration, the middleportion of the inter-transverse process implant may be configured tosubstantially follow an anterior aspect of a foramen of the adjacentvertebral pair. Additionally, in the anterior configuration, a channelof the middle portion may be contoured to accommodate a natural bonyanatomy of vertebral bodies of the adjacent vertebral pair and anintervertebral disk between the first vertebra and the second vertebra.

According to other embodiments, in the posterior configuration, achannel of the middle portion may be contoured to accommodate a naturalbony anatomy of a posterior portion along a facet joint of the firstvertebra and the second vertebra.

According to some embodiments, the implant may also include a springconfigured to follow the curved shape of the middle portion. The springmay be configured to press a bone contacting surface of theinter-transverse process implant against the first vertebra and thesecond vertebra. The spring may be configured to induce a distractionforce between the first vertebra and the second vertebra.

According to some embodiments, at least one of the first curved portion,the second curved portion, and the middle portion includes a boneintegration surface on at least one side thereof to promote boneingrowth, on-growth, and/or through-growth between the first vertebraand the second vertebra to facilitate fusion between the first vertebraand the second vertebra. The bone integration surface comprises atextured surface and/or a plurality of perforations. Each of theplurality of perforations have a diameter in a range from about 100micrometers to about 300 micrometers.

According to some embodiments, the implant may also include astabilizing cross member configured to extend from the first end to thesecond end to enhance a strength and stability of the inter-transverseprocess implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. Atleast one of the first end and the second end includes a bone engagementfeature. The bone engagement feature may be configured to induce a bonehealing response in one of the first vertebra or the second vertebra.

According to other embodiments, the inter-transverse process implant maybe configured to be stabilized between the first vertebra and the secondvertebra in response to pressure from surrounding ligaments, musculatureand tissue. One or more of the first end, the second end, and the middleportion may be composed from one or more of: a polymer, a metal, and analloy.

According to further embodiments, one or more of the first end and thesecond end may be configured to be affixed to a portion of the firstvertebra and second vertebra employing a fixation mechanism, where thefixation mechanism may be selected from one or more of a screw, a clamp,a suture, a hook, a spike, a textured surface, and a wire. One or moreof the first end and the second end may be configured to be affixed to avertebral body of the first and second vertebra.

According to further embodiments, inter-transverse process implant mayinclude at least two parts including an upper portion and a lowerportion, the upper portion and the lower portion configured to becoupled together after insertion between the first vertebra and thesecond vertebra. The upper portion and the lower portion may beconfigured to be coupled together employing one or more of: a snap fit,a Morse taper engagement, a screw fixation, a tab fixation, or a glue.

According to other embodiments, a portion of the inter-transverseprocess implant may be coated with a calcium deposit material to enablenewly forming bone to draw from the calcium deposit material.

The present disclosure also describes a spinal stabilization device tofacilitate spinal fusion, including a first end adapted to be in contactwith a first vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair, a second endadapted to be in contact with a second vertebra of the adjacentvertebral pair, and a middle portion extending between the first end andthe second end, at least a portion of the middle portion adapted to bepositioned between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. The firstvertebra may be a relatively superior vertebra and the second vertebramay be a relatively inferior vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair.

According to some embodiments, at least one of the first end and thesecond end may be bifurcated, the bifurcated end configured to straddlea portion of one of the first vertebra or the second vertebra. At leasta portion of the bifurcated second end may be positioned within a facetjoint between the second vertebra and the first vertebra. The bifurcatedsecond end may be configured to straddle a superior articular process ofthe second vertebra such that at least a portion of the bifurcatedsecond end may be positioned within the facet joint between the secondvertebra and the first vertebra.

According to other embodiments, one or more of the first end and thesecond end includes a channel configured to receive one of: a pedicle, atransverse process, or a superior articular process of the firstvertebra. One or more of the first end and the second end may beconfigured to be affixed to a portion of the first vertebra employing afixation mechanism. The fixation mechanism may be selected from one ormore of a screw, a clamp, a suture, a hook, and a wire.

According to other embodiments, one or more of the first end and thesecond end may be configured to be affixed to one of: a pedicle, atransverse process, or a superior articular process of the firstvertebra. One or more of the first end, the second end, and the middleportion includes a bone engagement feature, the bone engagement featureincluding one or more of: a fastener, a roughened surface, a pluralityof spikes, and a plurality of hooks. The bone engagement feature may beconfigured to induce a bone healing response in one of the firstvertebra or the second vertebra.

According to further embodiments, the middle portion may be curved fromthe first end to the second end to substantially follow a natural bonyanatomy between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. The middleportion may be configured to apply an expansion force between the firstend and the second end. The middle portion may be configured to extendbetween the first end and the second end across lamina of the adjacentvertebral pair. The middle portion may be configured to extend betweenthe first end and the second end across vertebral bodies of the adjacentvertebral pair.

According to further embodiments, the spinal stabilization device may bean elongated plate, the elongated plate configured to extend between thefirst vertebra and the second vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pairsuch that the first end of the plate may be in contact with a posteriorlamina of the first vertebra, and the second end of the plate may be incontact with a posterior lamina of the second vertebra. The middleportion of the plate may be contoured to substantially follow a naturalbony anatomy of a posterior portion of the adjacent vertebral pair.

According to some other embodiments, the device may also include alocking component configured to extend from the plate into a facet jointbetween the first vertebra and the second vertebra. The lockingcomponent may be a hook configured to insert within the facet joint tostabilize the plate in position between the first vertebra and thesecond vertebra.

According to other embodiments, one or more of the first end and thesecond end may be configured to be affixed to the posterior lamina ofthe first and second vertebra employing a fixation mechanism, where thefixation mechanism may be selected from one or more of a screw, a clamp,a suture, a hook, a spike, a textured surface, and a wire. One or moreof the first end, the second end, and the middle portion includes a boneintegration surface configured to promote bone ingrowth, on-growth,and/or through-growth between the first vertebra and the second vertebrato facilitate fusion between the first vertebra, the second vertebraand/or the spinal stabilization device.

According to other embodiments, a portion of the spinal stabilizationdevice may be coated with a calcium deposit material to enable newlyforming bone to draw from the calcium deposit material. The spinalstabilization device may be configured to be stabilized between thefirst vertebra and the second vertebra in response to pressure fromsurrounding ligaments, musculature and tissue.

According to some other embodiments, At least a portion of the spinalstabilization device may be composed from one or more of: a polymer, ametal, and an alloy. The metal may be selected from one or more of:titanium, titanium alloy, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloy, andtantalum. The polymer may be selected from one or more of:polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyethylene (PE), modified PEEK, modifiedPE and biodegradable polymers.

The present disclosure also describes a spinal stabilization device tofacilitate spinal fusion, including a plate fixation device configuredto extend between a first pedicle screw inserted within a first vertebraand a second pedicle screw inserted within a second vertebra, where theplate fixation device includes one or more holes configured toaccommodate insertion of the first and/or the second pedicle screws. Theplate fixation device may include a locking mechanism to accommodatecoupling with the first and/or the second pedicle screw such that whenthe first and/or the second pedicle screw may be inserted within the oneor more holes, the plate fixation device may be compressed against thefirst vertebra and the second vertebra.

The present disclosure further describes a method to achieve spinalfusion, including inserting a spinal stabilization device between anadjacent vertebral pair such that a first end of the spinalstabilization device may be in contact with a first vertebra of theadjacent vertebral pair, and a bifurcated second end of the spinalstabilization device may be in contact with a second vertebra of theadjacent vertebral pair such that the bifurcated second end straddles aportion of the second vertebra.

The method may include positioning the bifurcated second end such thatthe bifurcated second end straddles a superior articular process of thesecond vertebra. The method may also include positioning at least aportion of the bifurcated second end within a facet joint between thesecond vertebra and the first vertebra.

According to some embodiments, the method may include contacting thefirst end with the first vertebra such that a channel formed on abone-contacting side of the first end may be configured to receive oneof: a pedicle, a transverse process, or a superior articular process ofthe first vertebra. The method may include implanting the spinalstabilization device extraosseously such that the first end rests uponthe first vertebra and the second end rests upon the second vertebrawithout active fixation. The method may include affixing the first endto a portion of the first vertebra employing a fixation mechanism, wherethe fixation mechanism may be selected from one or more of a screw, aclamp, a suture, a hook, and a wire vertebra.

According to some embodiments, the method may include preparing asurface of one or more of the first vertebra and the second vertebra toreceive the spinal stabilization device prior to insertion of the spinalstabilization device by one or more of: piercing a periosteum anddecorticating the surface of one or more of the first vertebra and thesecond vertebra prior to insertion of the spinal stabilization device.

According to some embodiments, the method may include inserting thespinal stabilization device via an open procedure, where the openprocedure includes dissection and exposure to access a targeted facetjoint, and removal of a portion of cartilage within the targeted facetjoint. The method may include inserting the spinal stabilization devicevia one or more of a posterior and a lateral approach.

The present disclosure also describes a method to achieve spinal fusion,including inserting an elongated plate between an adjacent vertebralpair, such that a first end of the plate may be in contact with aposterior lamina of a first vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair, anda second end of the plate may be in contact with a posterior lamina ofthe second vertebra, and where a middle portion of the plate extendingbetween the first end and the second end may be adapted to be positionedbetween the first vertebra and the second vertebra.

According to some embodiments, the method may include positioning theplate such that a locking component extending from a portion of theplate may be inserted into a facet joint between the first vertebra andthe second vertebra. The method may also include affixing one or more ofthe first end and the second end to the posterior lamina of the firstand second vertebra employing a fixation mechanism, where the fixationmechanism may be selected from one or more of a screw, a clamp, asuture, a hook, a spike, a textured surface, and a wire. The method mayalso include selecting one or more of a shape, a size, and a contour ofthe plate to substantially follow a natural bony anatomy of a posteriorportion of the adjacent vertebral pair. The method may also includeafter insertion of the plate in position between the first vertebra andthe second vertebra, modifying a shape and a contour of the plate.

According to some embodiments, the method may include inserting theplate via one or more of a posterior and a lateral approach. The methodmay also include preparing a surface of one or more of the firstvertebra and the second vertebra to receive the plate prior to insertionof the plate by decorticating the surface of one or more of the firstvertebra and the second vertebra prior to insertion of the plate.

According to other embodiments, the method may include treating at leasta portion of the plate to enhance a bone integration surface of theplate, where the bone integration surface may be configured to promotebone ingrowth, on-growth, and/or through-growth between the firstvertebra and the second vertebra to facilitate fusion between the firstvertebra and the second vertebra. Treating at least a portion of theplate further may include texturizing and/or etching a surface of theplate to induce a roughness, coating a surface of the plate with aporous material, coating a surface of the plate with a titanium coating,and coating a surface of the plate with a plasma spray.

The present disclosure further describes a method to achieve spinalfusion, including inserting an inter-transverse process implant betweena first vertebra and a second vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pairsuch that a first end of the implant may be in contact with a firsttransverse process of the first vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair,a second end of the implant may be in contact with a second transverseprocess of the second vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair, and amiddle portion configured in a substantially curved shape extendsbetween the first end and the second end in one of a posterior or ananterior configuration with respect to the adjacent vertebral pair.

According to some embodiments, the method may include positioning theimplant such that, in the anterior configuration, the middle portion ofthe implant substantially follows an anterior aspect of a foramen of theadjacent vertebral pair.

The method may also include positioning the implant such that, in theposterior configuration, the middle portion of the implant substantiallyfollows a posterior aspect of a foramen of the adjacent vertebral pair.

According to other embodiments, the method may include inserting theimplant as separate upper and lower portions, where the upper portionand the lower portion may be configured to be coupled together afterinsertion between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. The methodmay also include affixing one or more of the first end and the secondend to a portion of the first vertebra and the second vertebra employinga fixation mechanism, where the fixation mechanism may be selected fromone or more: of a screw, a clamp, a suture, a hook, a spike, a texturedsurface, and a wire. The method may also include inserting the implantvia one or more of a posterior and a lateral approach.

According to further embodiments, the method may include preparing asurface of one or more of the first vertebra and the second vertebra toreceive the implant prior to insertion of the implant by decorticatingthe surface of one or more of the first vertebra and the second vertebraprior to insertion of the implant.

The method may also include treating at least a portion of the implantto enhance a bone integration surface of the implant, where the boneintegration surface may be configured to promote bone ingrowth,on-growth, and/or through-growth between the first vertebra and thesecond vertebra to facilitate fusion between the first vertebra and thesecond vertebra. Treating at least a portion of the implant further mayinclude texturizing and/or etching a surface of the implant to induce aroughness, coating a surface of the implant with a porous material,coating a surface of the implant with a titanium coating, and coating asurface of the implant with a plasma spray.

The present disclosure further describes a method to achieve spinalfusion, including inserting an inter-transverse process implant betweena first vertebra and a second vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pairsuch that a first end including a first curved portion may be in contactwith a portion of a first vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair, asecond end including a second curved portion may be in contact with aportion of a second vertebra adjacent to the first vertebra, and amiddle portion coupling the first end and the second end extends betweenthe first vertebra and the second vertebra.

According to further embodiments, the method may include inserting theimplant such that the first curved portion receives a first transverseprocess of the first vertebra, and the second curved portion receives asecond transverse process of the second vertebra. The method may alsoinclude, after initial insertion of the implant between the firstvertebra and the second vertebra, rotating the implant into a finalposition between the first vertebra and the second vertebra.

According to other embodiments, the method may include integrating anattachment component of the implant with one or more pedicle screwsinserted within a pedicle of the first vertebra and/or the secondvertebra. The method may further include inserting the implant via oneor more of a posterior and a lateral approach.

According to some other embodiments, the method may include treating atleast a portion of the implant to enhance a bone integration surface ofthe implant, where the bone integration surface may be configured topromote bone ingrowth, on-growth, and/or through-growth between thefirst vertebra and the second vertebra to facilitate fusion between thefirst vertebra and the second vertebra. Treating at least a portion ofthe implant may further include texturizing and/or etching a surface ofthe implant to induce a roughness, coating a surface of the implant witha porous material, coating a surface of the implant with a titaniumcoating, and coating a surface of the implant with a plasma spray.

The present disclosure further describes a method to increase stabilityof an adjacent vertebral pair of a spine. The method may includeselecting a spinal stabilization device having dimensions and mechanicalparameters to achieve the increase in stability between the adjacentvertebral pair, preparing a portion of a surface of a first vertebra anda second vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair employing a vibrationaltechnique to receive the spinal stabilization device, and implanting thespinal stabilization device at a location relative to the adjacentvertebral pair.

According to some embodiments, the method may include promoting a fusionbetween the adjacent vertebral pair, where the fusion occurs throughbone integration with the spinal stabilization device. Preparing theportion of the surface of the first vertebra and the second vertebraemploying a vibrational technique may include applying a device havingone of: a textured, roughened, and/or sharpened surface to the portionof the surface of the first vertebra and the second vertebra, andcausing the device to vibrate over a range of intensities.

According to other embodiments, the method may include scratching,etching, texturizing, and/or bruising the surface of the portion of thesurface of the first vertebra and the second vertebra to induce a bonehealing response in the surface of the first vertebra and the secondvertebra. The method may include employing a high vibration intensity toallow access to marrow elements of the first vertebra and the secondvertebra.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particularembodiments described in this application, which are intended asillustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations canbe made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods andapparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to thoseenumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from theforegoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intendedto fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosureis to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It isto be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particularmethods, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, whichcan, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodimentsonly, and is not intended to be limiting.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality may be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two componentsso associated may also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewedas being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically connectable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one”or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articlesused to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specificnumber of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at leasttwo recitations, or two or more recitations).

Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone,C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those withinthe art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting twoor more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, ordrawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities ofincluding one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. Forexample, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include thepossibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

While various compositions, methods, systems, and devices are describedin terms of “comprising” various components or steps (interpreted asmeaning “including, but not limited to”), the compositions, methods,systems, and devices can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of”the various components and steps, and such terminology should beinterpreted as defining essentially closed-member groups.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and allpurposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, allranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subrangesand combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easilyrecognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range beingbroken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths,tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein canbe readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third,etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all languagesuch as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the likeinclude the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequentlybroken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will beunderstood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individualmember. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 cells refers to groupshaving 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1-5 cells refers togroups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spinal stabilization device coated in amaterial to facilitate spinal fusion, the spinal stabilization devicecomprising: an inter-transverse process implant including: a first endthat includes a first curved portion in one of a u-shape or a j-shape ina cross-sectional view adapted to be in contact with a portion of afirst vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair, wherein: the first curvedportion includes a first anterior edge of a first length and a firstposterior edge of a second length, and the first anterior edge includesa first cutout; a second end that includes a second curved portion inone of the u-shape or the j-shape in the cross-sectional view adapted tobe in contact with a second vertebra portion, the second vertebraportion being adjacent to the first vertebra, wherein: the second curvedportion includes a second anterior edge of a third length and a secondposterior edge of a fourth length, the second anterior edge includes asecond cutout, and the first cutout and the second cutout enable arotational insertion to occur to insert the inter-transverse processimplant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra such that thefirst curved portion straddles a first transverse process of the firstvertebra and the second curved portion straddles a second transverseprocess of the second vertebra; a middle portion that extends betweenthe first end and the second end, at least a portion of the middleportion adapted to be positioned between the first vertebra and thesecond vertebra; and a stabilizing cross member, wherein the stabilizingcross member is configured to: extend from the first end to the secondend to enhance a strength and a stability of the inter-transverseprocess implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. 2.The spinal stabilization device of claim 1, wherein the middle portionincludes a bone integration surface on at least one side thereof topromote one or more from a set of bone ingrowth, on-growth, andthrough-growth between the first vertebra and the second vertebra tofacilitate fusion between the first vertebra and the second vertebra. 3.The spinal stabilization device of one of claim 2, wherein the boneintegration surface comprises one or more from a set of a texturedsurface and perforations.
 4. The spinal stabilization device of claim 3,wherein each of the perforations have a diameter in a range from about100 micrometers to about 300 micrometers.
 5. The spinal stabilizationdevice of claim 1, further comprising: a spring configured to follow acurved shape of the middle portion.
 6. The spinal stabilization deviceof claim 5, wherein the spring is configured to press a bone contactingsurface of the inter-transverse process implant against the firstvertebra and the second vertebra.
 7. The spinal stabilization device ofclaim 1, wherein: the first curved portion defines a channel that isadapted to receive the first transverse process of the first vertebra,and the second curved portion defines the channel that is adapted toreceive the second transverse process of the second vertebra.
 8. Thespinal stabilization device of claim 1, wherein the middle portion isconfigured in a substantially curved shape in one from a set of aposterior and an anterior configuration with respect to the adjacentvertebral pair.
 9. The spinal stabilization device of claim 1, whereinthe middle portion of the inter-transverse process implant includes achannel along a bone contacting surface.
 10. A spinal stabilizationdevice coated in a material to facilitate spinal fusion, the spinalstabilization device comprising: an inter-transverse process implantincluding: a first end that includes a first curved portion in one of au-shape or a j-shape in a cross-sectional view adapted to be in contactwith a portion of a first vertebra of an adjacent vertebral pair,wherein: the first curved portion includes a first anterior edge of afirst length and a first posterior edge of a second length, and thefirst anterior edge includes a first cutout; a second end that includesa second curved portion in one of the u-shape or the j-shape in thecross-sectional view adapted to be in contact with a second vertebra ofthe adjacent vertebral pair, wherein: the second curved portion includesa second anterior edge of a third length and a second posterior edge ofa fourth length, the second anterior edge includes a second cutout, andthe first cutout and the second cutout enable a rotational insertion tooccur to insert the inter-transverse process implant between the firstvertebra and the second vertebra such that the first curved portionstraddles a first transverse process of the first vertebra and thesecond curved portion straddles a second transverse process of thesecond vertebra; a middle portion that extends between the first end andthe second end, at least a portion of the middle portion adapted to bepositioned between the first vertebra and the second vertebra; and astabilizing cross member, wherein the stabilizing cross member isconfigured to: extend from the first end to the second end to enhance astrength and a stability of the inter-transverse process implant betweenthe first vertebra and the second vertebra.
 11. The spinal stabilizationdevice of claim 10, wherein the first vertebra is a relatively superiorvertebra and the second vertebra is a relatively inferior vertebra ofthe adjacent vertebral pair.
 12. The spinal stabilization device ofclaim 10, wherein one or more of the first end and the second end isconfigured to be affixed to the portion of the first vertebra thatemploys a fixation mechanism.
 13. The spinal stabilization device ofclaim 10, wherein one or more of the first end, the second end, and themiddle portion includes a bone engagement feature, and the boneengagement feature includes or more of: a fastener, a roughened surface,spikes, and hooks.
 14. A method to achieve spinal fusion, the methodcomprising: inserting a spinal stabilization device between an adjacentvertebral pair such that a first end of the spinal stabilization deviceis in contact with a first vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair and asecond end of the spinal stabilization device is in contact with asecond vertebra of the adjacent vertebral pair, wherein; the spinalstabilization device includes a first end having a first curved portionin one of a u-shape or a j-shape in a cross-sectional view and a secondend having a second curved portion in one of the u-shape or the j-shapein the cross-sectional view, the first curved portion includes a firstanterior edge of a first length and a first posterior edge of a secondlength, the second curved portion includes a second anterior edge of athird length and a second posterior edge of a fourth length, and thefirst anterior edge includes a first cutout and the second anterior edgeincludes a second cutout; and rotationally inserting the spinalstabilization device between the first vertebra and the second vertebraesuch that the first curved portion straddles a first transverse processof the first vertebra and the second curved portion straddles a secondtransverse process of the second vertebra.
 15. The method of claim 14,further comprising: positioning the second end such that the secondcurved portion straddles a superior articular process of the secondvertebra.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: preparing asurface of one or more of the first vertebra and the second vertebra toreceive the spinal stabilization device prior to insertion of the spinalstabilization device by one or more of piercing a periosteum anddecorticating the surface of one or more of the first vertebra and thesecond vertebra prior to insertion of the spinal stabilization device.17. The method of claim 14, further comprising inserting the spinalstabilization device via an open procedure, wherein the open procedureincludes dissection and exposure to access a targeted facet joint, andremoval of a portion of cartilage within the targeted facet joint.